Humble & Grateful

One of the more common questions we hear is patients asking the difference between internal medicine and family medicine - and how that relates to primary care.

This question always pleases me because it also means the individual understands the importance of having a primary care physician on their side, which I've covered extensively in this column.

Family medicine doctors care for people of all ages. Another way to look at it is they care for every family member, from babies to elderly patients. It's not uncommon for a patient to remain with the same family medicine doctor for an extended period.

Today, I will focus on those who practice internal medicine as part of our Physicians Regional family of doctors. I am excited to welcome Walter Bigit Milla, MD, to our medical staff. Dr. Bigit Milla joins a highly skilled team of internal medicine specialists, including Leonard Glaser, M.D., Michael Ianniello, D.O., Manuel Jimenez Rodriguez, M.D., Betty Kupracz, M.D., and James Maciejewski, M.D.

Internal medicine doctors, also known as internists, focus on the prevention and treatment of conditions and diseases in adults. Physicians Regional Medical Group's internists are trained in adult medicine and care for adults with a wide range of health concerns, from common illnesses to complex, chronic medical problems.

These highly skilled women and men work to solve complex diagnostic challenges and can manage care for severe chronic conditions or in situations, even where multiple illnesses are involved.

In most cases, your internist assumes the primary care physician's role and coordinates your care with other specialists. Whether facilitating appropriate screenings, providing information on leading a healthy lifestyle, or managing chronic disease, your internist is your personal health advocate.

Internists provide a range of services, including:

• Care for common problems of the ears, eyes, skin, and nervous and reproductive systems.
• Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases, including arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Immunizations.
• Inpatient and outpatient care for diseases.
• Care of minor injuries.
• Preventive care, including physical exams and well-woman exams.
• Sports physical exams.
• Senior care services.
• Pre- and post-operative consultations.

Dr. Bigit Milla is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, specializing in adult health, including preventative medicine, management of patients with chronic health conditions, and patient education. He focuses on patients with chronic conditions, which may include (but not limited to) hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, gastrointestinal disease, and lung disease.

"Surgery was my first choice," Dr. Bigit Milla recalls. "But through my years of medical school and training, I felt that Internal Medicine was the best fit for how I wanted to practice medicine. I enjoy talking with patients regarding their health and guiding the management to reach an optimal treatment plan."

Dr. Bigit Milla was born in Guatemala and grew up in El Salvador, where he lived until he graduated from medical school and came to the United States for his residency. "I lived through a civil war during most of my childhood and experienced several hardships, which has guided how I look at life. Growing up in a third-world country, with extremely limited resources, made me humble as well as grateful for the opportunity to help others."

He received his Doctor of Medicine at Dr. Jose Matias Delgado University in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. He received his advanced training in Internal Medicine through his residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (AIMMC) in Chicago.

A glass-half-full kind of guy, Dr. Bigit Milla's patients appreciate his time spent listening to them and asking pertinent questions regarding their present situation. "I like to include a positive attitude to the visit and portray that to my patients. I want to create a transparent doctor/patient relationship that can lead to respect and understanding."

As one whose goal is to promote the benefits of healthy choices, he often finds himself concerned when patients fail to do the basic things that lead to a healthy life. He consistently advises patients to eat healthier, exercise regularly, maintain good sleep hygiene, supplement with essential vitamins or minerals, and focus on reaching an appropriate and healthy weight.

"It is also necessary that patients understand the risks of frequent alcohol use and smoking," he advises. "They need to keep regular check-ups for chronic illnesses requiring specific monitoring to ensure their health is improving and not declining."

More simply put, a healthy patient's work does not end when the office visit is over.

A married father of three, Dr. Bigit Milla places a premium on the importance of family - his and yours. "My parents taught me to be humble - to work hard to reach my goals." Dr. Bigit Mila explains. "My father is a physician as well and he influenced much of how I look at medicine and patient care."

Before relocating to Southwest Florida, he was Medical Director of the Family Medicine Clinic of Levelland, Texas. Dr. Bigit Milla is now accepting new patients.

Dr. Bigit Milla is currently accepting new patients. To schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment with Dr. Walter Bigit Milla, please call 239-348-4221 or visit PhysiciansRegionalMedicalGroup.com to schedule an appointment online.